She feels so far away from me, but I resist pulling her in. We’ve done this many times already; I know she will bury her face in my chest, but her thoughts remain far. She must say the words.
“What happened?” I ask gently.
Her lips begin to tighten as if trying to hide a quiver.
“I—” She takes a deep breath. “They tortured me.”
I watch the column of her throat contract, and I hear the roar of blood rushing in my ears. Then, a tear falls down her cheek.
“They didn’t whip me, and Rholker never raped me. I told him that the Fuegorra would kill him if he tried, and it burned him every time he touched me.”
Only a fool would know such abuse is the only way for a man to hurt a woman.
“But?”
“But he brought in these women. The Six. They are human,and they have magic. I never thought I’d see something like that.” Each word is slightly staccatoed and she closes off her emotions.
I don’t push. I just listen.
I do, however, wonder why her Fuegorra was burning people. It is a magic I do not know.
“They ruined some of my memories to turn me against you. They shattered them like glass on a jagged rock. Rholker wanted me to be his, so they tried to erase you.” A flood of tears finally spills down. “But they didn’t, they couldn’t. I tried to be strong. Oh gods. Teo, I am so sorry. For everything I’ve ever done—I was pathetic and scared. I’ll never be that person again. Please.Pleaseforgive me,” she sobs, reaching forward to take my hands.
My heart cracks apart.
“Estela, my star. Stop. I forgave you long ago.” I pull her into my lap. “You helped save all those women. I saw you kill the giant. You are strong.”
She melts into me, but I catch her chin before she can hide again and tilt it up. Her face is puffy, red, wet, and perfect. She nearly knocks me over when she is the one to kiss me.
It’s a ferocious action, one borne from our weeks apart.
It doesn’t stop with the pressing of our lips together. Eventually, she grazes the seam of my mouth with her tongue. I can’t help but groan. It’s been too long since I tasted her. If this would bring her pleasure, then I would give her anything. Anything to take away the pain and make her smile once more.
I know enough for now.
It’s not until her hand slips under my shirt that I pause and pull back.
“Are you ready for this?” I ask.
She nods.
“Please. I need a new memory of you.”
I swallow. “Tell me if it becomes too much at any point.”
She nods, her chest rising and falling.
It’s only then that I reach forward toward her breast band filled with the Enduar diamonds. One quick tug, and it’s torn away from her flesh. There’s a little build-up of dirt, and whatever cosmetics they put on her have smudged and smeared, but the sight of her breasts with small, lovely rosebud nipples is one I would savor for the rest of my life.
She sucks in a sharp breath at being exposed to the air, so I bring my mouth to each peak, working to warm them so that she doesn’t feel the cold. The song crescendos into the room as her pulse quickens at my nearness. There’s no shocked pause, only a pleased groan when I relish as much attention upon her as possible.
I put my hand on the strange skirt and tear it off too.
“I’m going to rip out Rholker’s eyes the next time I see him for looking upon you like this,” I growl.
Her scent fills the air, and it turns on something that has long since been dormant.
My blood pumps harder, and my mouth waters. I lean her back, taking in those large, sad brown eyes.
